Acts 26:1–23 Paul’s Defense Before Agrippa
Quick Summary
Acts 26:1–23 records Paul's defense before King Agrippa. Paul recounts his background as a Pharisee who persecuted Christians, his dramatic encounter with the risen Jesus on the Damascus road, and his commission to preach to Jews and Gentiles. He explains that his message—repentance, turning to God, and the suffering and resurrection of the Messiah—is rooted in Moses and the prophets. Paul emphasizes that he proclaims nothing beyond what the Scriptures foretold: that the Messiah would suffer, rise from the dead, and bring light to Israel and the Gentiles. The speech is Paul's fullest account of his conversion and calling, presented with clarity and boldness before royalty.
Introduction
This is Paul's moment. He stands before King Agrippa, Bernice, Festus, military commanders, and the prominent citizens of Caesarea. He is a prisoner in chains, yet he commands the room.
Paul's speech is both personal testimony and theological argument. He tells his story—from zealous persecutor to devoted apostle—showing how his transformation was not apostasy but fulfillment. The God of Israel acted through Jesus the Messiah, just as the prophets foretold.
Paul addresses Agrippa directly, appealing to his knowledge of Jewish beliefs and the Scriptures. This is not a generic defense. It is tailored to the audience, particularly to Agrippa, who understands Jewish theology and messianic hope.
The speech is the longest in Acts. Luke gives it space because it encapsulates Paul's entire mission: proclaiming the risen Jesus to both Jews and Gentiles, calling all to repentance and faith.
Verse by Verse Breakdown of Acts 26:1–23 and Commentary
Acts 26:1
"Agrippa said to Paul, 'You have permission to speak for yourself.' Then Paul stretched out his hand and began to defend himself:"
Agrippa grants Paul permission to speak. This is formal court procedure. Paul responds with a gesture—stretching out his hand—a common rhetorical move signaling the beginning of a speech.
Paul is about to defend himself, but his defense will be an offense. He will not merely refute accusations. He will proclaim the gospel.
Acts 26:2–3
"'I consider myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am to make my defense today against all the accusations of the Jews, because you are especially familiar with all the customs and controversies of the Jews; therefore I beg of you to listen to me patiently.'"
Paul begins respectfully. He considers it fortunate to speak before Agrippa, who is "especially familiar with all the customs and controversies of the Jews."
This is strategic. Agrippa, as a descendant of Herod and overseer of temple affairs, knows Jewish theology, messianic expectations, and scriptural debates. Paul can appeal to shared knowledge rather than starting from scratch.
Paul asks Agrippa to listen patiently. The speech will be long, but Paul trusts that Agrippa's understanding will make it worthwhile.
Acts 26:4–5
"'All the Jews know my way of life from my youth, a life spent from the beginning among my own people and in Jerusalem. They have known for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that I have belonged to the strictest sect of our religion and lived as a Pharisee.'"
Paul establishes his credentials. He is not an outsider to Judaism. His entire life has been spent among Jews, in Jerusalem, living as a Pharisee—the strictest sect.
This matters. Paul's opponents accuse him of abandoning Judaism. But Paul insists he has remained faithful to the God of Israel and the hope of the Scriptures.
Acts 26:6–8
"'And now I stand here on trial on account of my hope in the promise made by God to our ancestors, a promise that our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly worship day and night. It is for this hope, your Excellency, that I am accused by Jews! Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead?'"
Paul frames the issue. He is on trial because of "the promise made by God to our ancestors." This promise is the hope of Israel—resurrection.
Paul appeals to common ground. The twelve tribes worship day and night in hope of this promise. Yet Paul is accused for believing it.
Then Paul asks the key question: "Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead?" If God is Creator, resurrection is not impossible. It is consistent with his power and character.
This is directed at Agrippa and the audience, but it challenges a fundamental assumption. Many Greeks and Romans considered bodily resurrection absurd. Yet Paul insists it is the fulfillment of Jewish hope.
Acts 26:9–11
"'Indeed, I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things against the name of Jesus of Nazareth. And that is what I did in Jerusalem; with authority received from the chief priests, I not only locked up many of the saints in prison, but I also cast my vote against them when they were being condemned to death. By punishing them often in all the synagogues I tried to force them to blaspheme; and since I was so furiously enraged at them, I pursued them even to foreign cities.'"
Paul does not hide his past. He persecuted Christians with zeal and authority. He imprisoned them, voted for their execution, and pursued them to foreign cities.
The language is intense: "furiously enraged." Paul was not lukewarm in his opposition. He believed Christians were blasphemers and fought to destroy the movement.
This confession is important. If anyone had reason to reject Jesus, it was Paul. His conversion was not the result of sympathy or curiosity. It was the result of an encounter with the risen Christ that he could not deny.
Acts 26:12–15
"'With this in mind I was traveling to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests, when at midday along the road, your Excellency, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and my companions. When we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It hurts you to kick against the goads." I asked, "Who are you, Lord?" The Lord answered, "I am Jesus whom you are persecuting."'"
Paul recounts the Damascus road experience, now for the third time in Acts (see also Acts 9:1-19 and 22:6-16). Each telling emphasizes different details depending on the audience.
Here, Paul stresses the intensity of the light—"brighter than the sun"—and that all his companions fell to the ground. This was not a private vision. It was a public event, though the voice spoke specifically to Paul.
Jesus identifies himself: "I am Jesus whom you are persecuting." This reveals the profound truth that to persecute Christians is to persecute Christ himself.
The phrase "it hurts you to kick against the goads" is a Greek proverb. A goad was a sharp stick used to drive oxen. Kicking against it only causes pain. Jesus is saying Paul's resistance is futile and self-destructive.
Acts 26:16–18
"'But get up and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you to serve and testify to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you. I will rescue you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'"
Jesus commissions Paul immediately. He is appointed to serve and testify. His mission has two parts: testify to what he has seen (the risen Christ) and to what will be revealed to him (ongoing revelation).
Jesus promises protection: "I will rescue you from your people and from the Gentiles." Opposition will come from both sides, but God will preserve Paul.
The mission is clear: open eyes, turn people from darkness to light, from Satan's power to God's, so they may receive forgiveness and inheritance among the sanctified.
This is the gospel in summary. It is not merely intellectual. It is spiritual warfare, liberation, forgiveness, and transformation.
Paul's mission is especially to the Gentiles. This has been the theme throughout Acts—the gospel spreads beyond Israel to the nations. Paul is the apostle to the Gentiles, called directly by Christ.
Acts 26:19–20
"'After that, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout the countryside of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God and do deeds consistent with repentance.'"
Paul emphasizes obedience. He did not ignore the vision. He immediately began proclaiming the message.
His preaching followed a geographic pattern: Damascus, Jerusalem, Judea, and the Gentiles. This mirrors the outline Jesus gave in Acts 1:8—Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth.
The content of Paul's message is straightforward: repent, turn to God, and live accordingly. This is not abstract theology. It is a call to transformation.
Acts 26:21
"'For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me.'"
Paul explains his arrest. The Jews tried to kill him not because he violated the law or defiled the temple, but because of his message. His proclamation to the Gentiles provoked rage.
This is consistent with what Luke has shown throughout Acts. The inclusion of Gentiles on equal terms with Jews is the flashpoint of opposition.
Acts 26:22–23
"'To this day I have had help from God, and so I stand here, testifying to both small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would take place: that the Messiah must suffer, and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.'"
Paul concludes by grounding his message in Scripture. He has proclaimed "nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would take place."
Two key truths:
First, the Messiah must suffer. This was unexpected. Most Jews anticipated a conquering king, not a suffering servant. But Paul insists the Scriptures foretold it (Isaiah 53, Psalm 22).
Second, the Messiah would be "the first to rise from the dead" and proclaim light to Israel and the Gentiles. Resurrection is central. Jesus' rising validates his identity and inaugurates the age to come.
Paul's message is not innovation. It is fulfillment. The God of Israel has acted through Jesus to accomplish what he promised in the Scriptures.
Acts 26:1–23 Meaning for Today
Acts 26:1–23 offers important lessons about testimony, mission, and the power of the gospel.
First, personal testimony is a powerful tool for witness. Paul did not argue abstractly about theology. He told his story. Believers today should be able to articulate how they came to faith and what Christ has done in their lives.
Second, the gospel is rooted in Scripture. Paul insisted he proclaimed nothing beyond Moses and the prophets. The church must show that the gospel is not a departure from God's revelation but its culmination.
Third, obedience to Christ's call is not optional. Paul was "not disobedient to the heavenly vision." He could have ignored it, rationalized it, or delayed. Instead, he obeyed immediately. Christians are similarly called to obedience, regardless of cost.
Fourth, suffering and resurrection are central to the gospel. Paul emphasized that the Messiah must suffer and rise. The church must proclaim both. A gospel without the cross is incomplete. A gospel without resurrection is powerless.
Fifth, the message is for everyone. Paul testified to "both small and great," to Jews and Gentiles. The gospel is not exclusive to one ethnicity, class, or culture. It is universal.
Finally, God protects his servants to accomplish his purposes. Jesus promised Paul, "I will rescue you." Paul faced constant opposition, yet he survived to complete his mission. Believers can trust that God will sustain them for the work he has called them to do.
Acts 26:1–23 presents Paul at his best—bold, articulate, grounded in Scripture, and unwavering in his commitment to Christ. His speech challenges believers to similar clarity, courage, and faithfulness in proclaiming the gospel.
Works Consulted
Bruce, F. F. The Book of the Acts. Revised edition. New International Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1988.
Dunn, James D. G. The Acts of the Apostles. Epworth Commentaries. Peterborough: Epworth Press, 1996.
Johnson, Luke Timothy. The Acts of the Apostles. Sacra Pagina 5. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 1992.
Keener, Craig S. Acts: An Exegetical Commentary. Vol. 4, 24:1–28:31. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2015.
Witherington, Ben, III. The Acts of the Apostles: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1998.
Bock, Darrell L. Acts. Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2007.
Longenecker, Richard N. Acts. Expositor's Bible Commentary 9. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1981.
New Revised Standard Version Bible.
See Also
Acts 25:13-27 Paul Before Festus and Agrippa
